The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1887-02-05
THE WRECKED TRAIN.
Graphic Account of the Northern Pacific
Accident Near saltwater.

"
Train No. 1, which left St. Paul Satu1
day, at p. M, was rolling along Tuesda
afternoon, some thirty hours late, to tn
tune of creaking wheels, bursts of Taught
er from some hilarious, story telling grou
who were ''making the best of it, and a
occasional growl from some of the pas
sengers, chafing at the long delay an
slow progress. At Mandan we had over
taken the train which had left St. Paul
day ahead of us, and had taken its pas
sengers aboard of our train, hooking it
sleeper on behind, making train Of min
cars, all the coaches being we'll filed. A
3 p. nj. Tuesday we had reached poin
known as the ''rapids," three miles east o
Saltwater, and were running at abou
twelve miles an hour. In the smokin:
room Of our sleeper we're T. G. Power
Mr.. Hammond of Missoula, Judge Math
son of Billings, Mr.. O'Brien of the Mer
chants hotel, Helena, Mr.. Washburn,
young eastern man, and your reporter
.Well," remarked Mr.. Washburn, drily
..isn't it about time we were favored will
another four Or FIVE hours stop?" Th'
words had hardly penetrated the tobacco
smoke when a sudden, tremendous jal
caused all hands to mechanically brace
themselves, while ''boulder," "snowbank,
.scattle," etc., came as in one breath from
the members of the party. The first jaI
was followed by several more In quick
succession, together with visible slack
ening and an extremely visible stopping
of the trains motion, at which we all
started tor the platform, prompted by
curiosity, but never even dreaming of the
terrible wreck befure US until Tom Power,
who was ahead, exclaimed in his qulck,
sharp tones, "My God' we've got work
ahead, boys" at the same time jumping
from the steps and running up ahead.
We were instantly on his trail, looking
upon sight which it would puzzle the
devil, with all his accredited ingenuity,
to make worse, for with the visible wreck
of property came appalling visions OF
mangled bodies and broken bones; moth
ers clasping crushed and bleeding little
ones, and children clinging in agony to
the torn and lifeless remains of what had
been their best friends on earth-their
mothers. The track at this point takes a
sharp out curve towards the river, which
is about twenty five feet below and sixty
feet distant from the rails, which seven Of
the nine cars had left. The express and
mail car was jammed on its side into a
rise of the embankment ahead; the two
baggage cars and emf grant coach were on
their sides, entirely on the frozen river;
the smoking car was partially overturned,
the front end against the emigrant coach
and rear on the bank; the first class coach
stood at about 45-degree angle, its "nose"
on the ice, side against the end of the
smoker, and rear coupled to the dining
car, the front trucks Of which only left
the rails, vacant space of fifteen feet in
the outside rail under the diner telling the
story of the wreck. Those on the outside
were now busily engaged in pulling men,
women and children out of windows.
Women were sobbing Historically, child
rem were screaming, men were shouting,
but still there was no cry as of one in
mortal agony, and as one by one the
'haken-up passengers crawled and were
pulled out, set on their pins and started
Up the bank, it first became a hope and
inally certainty that of the two hund-
ed people who took the fearful plunge.
lot one was killed, not single one was
eriously injured or even painfully bruis-
d, and the exclamation, "truly miracu-
o,s,' was often heard, as we reviewed
he overturned and shattered cars, with
rucks and fragments scattered IN all di-
ections. The car-wrecked people were
II made comfortable in the sleepers and
lner which, with the car ahead, were
psedily got onto the track when we were
IN back to Park City, where we lay until
ight o'clock the next morning when, the
ack being in order, we made another
'ial, arriving in Livingston only forty
ght hours late with all our mishaps.
NOTES.
Judge Matheson did noble service as
olunteer fireman, shoveling snow, and as
baggage master he is daisy. Why, he
andles a trunk like a-but never mind.
Dining-Car Conductor Turnbull was
,ual to the occasion, and served supper
! his usual style "a little late, Out
4 the more acceptable.
The mercury was about $50 . below,
ut the weather was no cooler than the
blowing: A party of five in the smoker
ere enjoying little game Of draw, and
jack pot had just been opened when the
rash came. One after another they came
:awiing out, and one of the party ex-
aimed, after rubbing the dust out Of his
res, "Here boys, want you TO see | had
SQUARE onener for that lack ;, At the l